Online builders' merchant achieves 46% growth in sales

Construction Materials Online (CMO) reported sales of £38.6million in 2018. The business has seen rapid growth, having doubled in size since 2016.

CEO Andy Dunkley describes the CMO business as ground-breaking and says it is "raising the bar with an ambitious strategy to achieve significant growth"

CMO supplies a range of over 70,000 construction materials to DIY and the trade. The firm received an injection of cash in 2017, with an £8.65million investment by private equity firm, KCP. The business has noted a 35% increase in customers and site visits to its online stores; roofingsuperstore.co.uk, drainagesuperstore.co.uk, insulationsuperstore.co.uk, and doorsuperstore.co.uk.

CMO chief financial officer Sue Packer commented: “Responding to the needs of our B2C customers and growing base of trade customers is the key driver to our success. It’s also the reason we feel confident about our growth initiatives for the coming year and beyond.”

Describing the business as “ground-breaking”, CEO Andy Dunkley said CMO “adds value” to its customers, which include builders, contractors and direct consumers. “We’ve been working hard to add innovative products to the range and ramping up specialist training for teams. We’re raising the bar in the industry with an ambitious strategy to continue our significant growth.”

In 2018, the business acquired DoorWeb, which has now been successfully integrated into CMO’s online platform as doorsuperstore.co.uk. The new business is reportedly going from strength to strength; achieving record sales since its October launch. A move to new premises accommodated the company’s 90-strong staff, whilst upgraded warehouse management, stock, and financial systems should help to provide “a solid platform for future growth”, says the company.

KCP investment director James Excell, who joined the board following the PR firm’s investment, said: “CMO is on track for an extremely strong year, having pioneered e-commerce in construction and hitting a sweet spot which combines efficient delivery, better service, and better pricing.”